Laphroaig blew me away the first time I tried it, and made me realise just how versatile whisky can be. It's nectar, and captures the area it's produced in perfectly.
@@UsedBrain4U same. There's something about unpeated whisky that just tastes and feels off putting to me now. I'm partial to a bit of bourbon now and then, but when it comes to scotch, it's heavily peated all the way for me.
Caol Ila is one of my favorites as a base 12 year old malt. Tastes completely different to other Islay whiskeys with the distillery down by the water. Love Lagavullin and of course the medicinal whiskey Laphroaig. I wonder how the CV-19 immunity is on Islay currently 😉😉😂.
I am Japanese and live in Kyoto. Kyoto is one of the leading sake producing areas in Japan. The area where this sake is made is called "Fushimi". This "Fushimi" is also famous for producing one of the most famous waters in Japan. In the same place as this famous water system, there is Suntory, which is famous for Japanese whiskey, and "Yamazaki" is made. I get the well water from a shrine near my house, make a water split for my favorite Islay whiskey, and drink it. My favorite brands are Finlagan, Bowmore and Ardbeg. Mizuwari made from Islay whiskey and well water in Kyoto is the best.
Great water makes a huge difference in the creation of spirits. We're luck to live in San Francisco, which has a fantastic water source for the US. Thank you for sharing! My wife and I have made it to Australia, but not all the way to Japan yet. It's on our travel list as the world slowly opens up again. Cheers!
Japan has a unique way of drinking, cocktails. It is a cocktail called "MIZUWARI". I mix whiskey with water, and I use well water from a shrine near my house, and I can make the most delicious MIZUWARI cocktail. Scotch or bourbon is delicious.
Great reviews! Laphroaig 10 yo was also my introduction to Islay that started me on my journey. To me, this whisky probably responds to a few drops of water more profoundly than the others that you reviewed…it brings out many more flavors as well as heightens the intensity of the smoke. As mentioned by another commenter, the darker color is due to added colorant, most likely e150, that can add a bit of artificial caramel to the finish. I really loved to hear what you said about Port Charlotte….fantastic whisky that flies under the radar of many whisky lovers. I think I would have used the Islay Barley Heavily Peated NAS version as the PC exemplar of the brand, but that’s only a matter of personal preference. I would have also used the Lagavulin 8 yo as the representative of Lagavulin, even though the 16 yo is much better known, because it’s significantly more affordable and provides more bang for the buck. For the additional, “extra credit” bottle, I would have used Caol Ila 12 yo instead of Ardbeg Corryvreckan because the CI would better represent a more gentle introduction to peated whisky from Islay. …and then there’s Kilchoman Machir Bay, but that’s not as widely available. It was started relatively recently as a tiny effort in the barnyard of a farm and may be the most elemental of all Islay whiskies.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that the Lagavulin 8 is excellent and I have included it in a past review. The Caol Ila 12 and the Machir Bay also have reviews. I really love the Kichoman Distillery, one of the best tours we had on Islay, but I don't tend to reach for their drams as much. But flavors are personal and we all benefit from the wealth of variety of whisky styles and types. Cheers!
I was at Kilchoman a couple weeks ago and while I didn't prefer their Machir Bay, I picked up a bottle of their 100% Islay. I've been thoroughly enjoying it--possibly one of my all-time favorites.
What a tremendous presentation. I loved the tone and style and of course, the content. Beautifully explained and delivered. I only wish I had the skills to be able to discern those flavours in the same way. Top stuff.
Thank you so much! Tasting notes are hard for me, but I always keep notes from other sources around so I can reference them. Sometimes I find smells or tastes after reading someone's notes and sometimes I just find new words for the notes that I'm finding. It's just about practice. Cheers!
Thanks so much, Rob! In addition to teaching me guitar skills, your channel has inspired me to play on camera. I also wouldn't be able to record my riffs with this level of quality without the Earthworks SR-25 mic that I won from your giveaway. You're a big part of the existence of Whisky Riffs. Cheers!
When I first tried the Laphroaig 10 (40%), I was blown away and amazed at how flavorful it was. It instantly became my favorite. Then I tried the cask strength Laph 10, and I realized how watered down and bland the regular 40% was compared to it. Now the cask strength is my new favorite.
Hi Kevin. Nice review. I’ve tasted all of these except for the Corryvreckan. My favourites are the Port Charlotte 10 and the Lagavulin 16. They are the ”easiest” for a new whisky enthusiast like me. I’ve just finished my Ardbeg 10, which was my very first Ardbeg ever, and I still have the Uigeadail and the An Oa, which in my opinion are excellent whiskiws and easier for a beginner. The Laphroaig 10 is really something different but very enjoyable!
Thank you for your kind words! The Corryvreckan is a beast (not to be confused with the Wee Beastie 5 year) compared to the Ardbeg Uigeadail, but it may be my favorite expression. You're doing an amazing job of enjoying the Islay peated expressions. Well done!
Hi, I came across your vlog. I'm in Scotland. I thought this was strange an American talking about our whisky. But I must say I really enjoyed it, in a strange way.
That's a great expression, Erik. I definitely recommend trying the Port Charlotte 10 HP. If you try any of them, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Cheers!
Great video, thank you. I couldn't agree more. Laphroaig 10 was my first Islay whisky too. I fluctuate between Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg, and Port Charlotte as my favorites. Right now, I like the NCF and 46% presentation of Ardbeg 10, but Laphroaig probably wins for its overall character. And I also have trouble choosing between the Lagavulin 8 and 16 year, since both have their own characters.
Thank you and I agree on all your points. I want different brands on different days - but I almost always love a Bruichladdich expression. ;) I think the Lagavulin 8 has a great flavor profile (from a very old episode ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-W2KLgQub0CE.html). Cheers!
Hello from Germany. Wow, this selection is near to my favorite Islay Whiskys. My absolute favorite is the Uigeadail followed by the Lagavulin 16Y. Conversely to your choice. In my ranking comes now the Kilchoman Machir Bay. After that the Laphroaig Quarter Cask followed by a Single Malt from unknown distillery, The Ileach Cask strength. I don't know if you can buy it in the US, but here in Germany its sometimes in big supermarkets for a amazing low price, because its a very powerful Whisky with 58 vol.% Alcohol. Very delicious. Thats my ranking of my most favorite Islay Single Malt Whiskys. I love them all.
Hello, Bernd! I have not tasted the Ileach Cask Strength, but I was only including expressions directly from the Islay distilleries for this episode. The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. with all their special bottlings could probably be its own episode. ;) Cheers!
I just stumbled across your channel and this vid has brought back some great memories. Before I retired I was an MD of a company that supplied many of the Distilleries in Scotland & Ireland and I had the pleasure of visiting most of them several times over. On my last visit, I had the honour of being invited into the Laphroaig vaults by the Distillery Manager (where they keep every Laphroaig that has been produced). It was an experience that I will never forget, as was the Hangover which lasted for several days afterwards. PS just a wee tip, keep your Laphroaig etc chilled in the refrigerator and drink it whilst eating strong dark chocolate (85%+), it adds a whole new dimension to the experience.
OMG! I'm so jealous of your career experience. That's so cool! Thanks for the tip on the chilled Laphroaig. We had a chilled Dalwhinnie expression on our recent tour of the Highlands (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0vgmmLMHXV0.html) and it was quite interesting. Cheers!
@@WhiskyRiffs Many thanks for your comment, visits to the Distilleries were always a highlight and made up for the times that I was visiting Oil Refineries & Chemical Plants. The Highlands & Speyside are littered with Maturing Sheds where the Casks of Malt gently mature before bottling, some of them are in the most wonderful setting and if you get the chance are an interesting visit. The chilling & Dark chocolate tip was courtesy of the chief Electrical Eng for Beam Global who own Laphroaig these days. Enjoy👍
5 great whiskies, haven't tried that version of Port Chorlotte...yet. My favorite of the 5 is, without a doubt The Corryvreckan. My absolute favorite Islay whisky is the Port Askaig 10yo 10th anniversary 55.85%abv. Other good stuff is Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2010, Lagavulin Destillers edition, Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013 Port wood (The Brodir is also good), Bunnahabhain 12yo, Kilchoman Port wood.....and many others. Cheers!! P.S The Corryvreckan wirlpool is located north of Jura ;)
Thanks for your list! I have to try Port Askaig again, since I’ve only had it in samples and not the special bottling you mentioned. I have a video about the 2019 Lagavulin Distillers Edition and I’ll add the rest to my to do list. I do see that the Corryvreckan is north of Jura, thanks. I just went with the more general location given on the Ardbeg site of “north of Islay”. I’ll do more homework next time. ;)
Kevin, I’m a relative amateur in the whisky game (as well as in the guitar game), and I cannot thank you enough for the treasure trove of information you have on your terrific channel!
Thank you so much for those kind words, Sebastian! I've learned not to let the label "amateur" limit my ability to enjoy what I like. Please let me know if I can ever answer any questions or review a specific expression for you. Cheers!
Lagavulin 16 was my first Islay whisky, and from there my peaked collection has exploded. I’ve yet to find a peated scotch I don’t enjoy! Some of my favorites from my collection are the Octomore 11.3, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan, and any Lag expression (11, 12, or 16). I eventually want to try and get my hands on the Laphroaig Lore as I’ve heard from the grapevine that it has a phenomenal blend for the price: 65% 15 y/o first fill bourbon 21 y/o bourbon barrel 10 y/o first fill Oloroso (full maturation) 11 y/o virgin European oak 9 y/o QC (full maturation) 8 y/o first fill bourbon
I really love the Lore and I've gone through a couple of bottles. I thought I might have had a dram left, but no. My recent experience with the second batch of the Traigh Bhan was eye opening (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ab3XC_W6EhM.html). It was a flavor roller coaster for me. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
So well done - thank you. Very academic yet passionate review. I’ve had the first five and couldn’t agree more, especially with the assessment of the Uigeadail and Port Charlotte (so underrated!). Also want to throw in a plug for Laphroaig Lore - it’s kinda an Uigeadail for Laphroaig lovers. Incredibly complex yet faithful to their core profile. Thanks again for some excellent content
Thank you so much, Ben! I agree that Lore is great, but it was over the $100 mark for this episode. I followed up some more expensive Islay (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sAcLr7k3Z34.html). Thanks for watching and for agreeing about PCHP 10. Cheers!
Great reviews. I think my favorite of the 5 is the Port Charlotte 10. The complexity and the ABV and the price are all in the right wheelhouse for me. Liked and Subscribed.
The "medicinal" flavor makes Laphroaig 10 a perfect component for the Penicillin cocktail! Nothing else can create that ideal combination of taste and aroma!
Greetings from Scotland - just caught your top Islay reviews and the Cull Ila follow on - first I have to say great pronunciation - second - great reviews - massive fan of Arbeg 10 and Bunnahabhain 12 - the others are in my wallet's pain zone - in Scotland whisky is shockingly expensive - tax on Scotch - in the country of its origin - currently stands at around 70% - more than any other alcoholic product - this means that £3 in every £4 spent on a bottle goes to the HM Treasury in excise and VAT (our sales or purchase tax) - and our specialist whisky shops seem to charge a premium for the pleasure of buying a bottle from them - I check on Amazon and various supermarkets where you can get deals of up to £10 - £15 off a decent bottle - I'll be looking through your back catalogue with a wee glass - lang may yer lum reek!
Thank you for the pronunciation compliment! I do try to lookup the correct way to say Scottish names, even if I don't always nail the accent. ;) My wife and I just got back from a tour of 9 Highland distilleries (I'll talk about that more in an upcoming episode or two) and I did notice that most of the prices were higher than I'd pay here in San Francisco. That didn't stop me from buying six distillery/travel-exclusive bottles and bringing them home with me. Let me know if there are any whiskies you'd like reviewed. Slàinte mhath!
I've just watched your Burns Night Glenfarclas tasting and Islay whisky tour - I'll catch up with your Islay tour - I should have said most Scots have difficulty pronouncing any whisky with a Gaelic name - only a wee bit more than 1% of Scots are Gaelic fluent - roughly 58,000 out of a population of 5.5 million - interested to hear about your distillery exclusive bottlings - for Burns Night I like Robert Burns Single Malt - the only whisky officially endorsed by the World Burns Federation - drinking a Burns on Burns Night - ye cannae get better than tha' - an honest decent young malt perfect to accompany the traditional haggis neeps and tatties - 43% NCF NC NAS - at a wee bit over £30 a bargain - from Arran Distilleries - an independent distillery - and their Arran 10 - 46% NFC NC £ 37 - is well worth trying - cheerio the noo!
One of the best burgers I've ever eaten was in Edinburgh at the Rose & Crown. It was topped with cheese and haggis and was way too filling, but very delicious. Also, I do have an Arran 10 episode: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dS2RMxngyMw.html. I didn't know the Robert Burns Single Malt was from Arran, but now that I do I'll need to look at acquiring a bottle. Cheers!
Appreciate the link - great review - liked the video insert of Jammy Dodger biscuits - the expression Jammy Dodger in Scotland means someone who has undeserved good luck or fortune - as in - he's a right jammy dodger - he's a right lucky bxxxxxx - Rose Street in Edinburgh has an interesting history - a famous house of ill repute in the 1790s - the owner Miss Burns was obliged to leave Edinburgh by the authorities - Burns wrote a short poem critical of her detractors - I think she raised a court case about her expulsion from Edinburgh - many literary connections and many great bars - Rose St is favoured destination for a pub crawl - 10 + pubs - how far can you get - the next day - do you remember how far you got - all the best
Great review. I started drinking whisky a couple of years ago. Fell in love with Islay whisky's the moment I drank Lagavulin 16y. It was the first bottle I finished and now I always want one on my shelf. I don't really like the Laphroaig 10 because of the iodine. Just bought the Ardbed Uigeadail and Corryvreckan for myself as a Christmas present. Can't wait to try them.
Thanks for sharing. My introduction to Lagavulin 16 was at a wedding for my friend's daughter. He pulled a select few of us aside and offered us a glass of "the good stuff". I've loved it ever since. Cheers!
@@WhiskyRiffs thank! I'm drinking the Corry and Oogie right now and I mùust say I'm more of a fan of the Corryvreckan. The Oogie has a bit of that iodine taste that I don't really like, although it's not that strong as the Laphroaig.
I've had and enjoyed both the Ardbeg 10 and the Lag 16 ... next stop, Port Charlotte! One thing I totally enjoy about the scotch / bourbon market is that there is never a lack of new expressions to try! I love it.
You're so right, there's a never-ending list of expressions to try. I found even more as I started traveling outside the US on a full-time basis (@findingGinaMarie). Cheers!
I also was introduced to Scotch with a bottle of Laphroaig 10 and my second bottle was the Lagavulin 16. When I was introduced to the Laphroaig, I was impressed with its flavor and peat tase. I enjoyed it tremendously. That being said, a friend who introduced me to the Scotch stated if I loved the peat of the Laphroaig that I should try the Lagavulin. Once I did, I was hooked. I wasn't much of a drinker except for wine with dinner but now I have become a Scotch man. I enjoy my Scotch and have excelled in trying several others and have introduced various Scotches to my friends and Sons. It has become more pleasurable to me sharing my Scotches with my friends and sons to create fine moments and memories.
Well said! Moments and memories are often more important than what's in my glass. I love that we have similar stories: Laphroaig 10 awakening my interest in discovering flavors in whisky and Lagavulin 16 being served to me by a friend as "the good stuff" during his daughter's wedding. Thank you so much for watching and sharing! Cheers!
I watched this just now and “WOW” !.. For me it all started when my Brother in law George introduced me to Laphroaig 10. I fell in love with Isla Scotches. I’ve tried all of the ones you referenced here. I’ve owned a bottle (or 2) of each one. I would recommend you try the Octomore (Brookladdy) for the ultimate peat power expression. Otherworldly, insane peat, but unbelievably smooth. I’ve been to Isla and highly recommended you go if you haven’t, for the ultimate immersion experience. The environment is pristine. You cannot escape the peat as you can smell it in the air everywhere. It is in abundance. It’s burned to heat their homes. It lingers in the air. You can’t escape that clean unique slightly sweet, mossy scent. The people are wonderful and are all passionate about (1) thing Isla Scotch. I did a tasting at Laphroaig and toured their peat floors. My wife and I then walked down this beautiful trail down to Lagavolin and then down to Ardbeg. Ardbeg is the most beautiful Distillery imaginable (my opinion) and has a restaurant that serves incredible food. (Steamed mussels in a buttery, garlicky broth, served in a cast iron pot. To die for.) I prefer the Cask strength whiskies as the thickness slows the whole experience down by sitting on your tongue longer. Lastly sometimes just adding a few drops of water releases some of the flavors. For this I recommend only the best most pristine water you can find. My preference would be Glacier water with a high mineral content. The best drink of Laphroaig I ever had was while visiting the Canadian Rockies (Jasper) and having access to their incredible water to add to it. You’d and my pallet seem to be on point. I have to say I agree with all of the tasting points you expressed here. Awesome !
Thanks for your comments and suggestions. My wife and I took a 4-day tour of Islay that included 9 distilleries in all. It was so good, I'm thinking of doing it again later this year. As for Bruichladdich, I love that distillery. Recently, I had a change of hear about Octomore and whether it's worth the price. You can see my review here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_yAhd4lKPSo.html. Cheers!
Islay are my favorite style by far, and out of your six, Port Charlotte and the Corryvreckan are the two I have yet to try, although I will grab a bottle of Port Charlotte at my first opportunity, and will keep an eye out for the Corryvreckan. Absolutely spot on with your reviews, particularly that Lagavulin 16. My girlfriend refers to these as "liquid bandaids," so I laughed when you used bandaids as a description. Another favorite of mine is Ardbeg An Oa, smoky, sweet, deep richness with that peppery, spicy bite.
Thank you for your interesting and very straightforward Islay reviews. There's not a lot of laughing and sidebars and time wasting. Excellent presentation.
Very nice review. I basically agree with your choices but I would change the Laphroaig 10 for the Quarter Cask. My latest discovery of the list, 3 years ago, was the Port Charlotte and it has become one of my favorites ever. It has such a good bang for the buck! Lagavulin was the dram that my older brother used to make me discover the world of peated whiskies and I fell in love with them since then. And Uiegedail has also become one of my Top-3 choices (that I can pay). Keep up the good music and good reviews!! Sláinte from Barcelona (Catalonia).
It's hard for me to score whisky expressions. I think everyone has their own taste preferences, which makes objective ratings unreliable. I will rate distilleries though and Ardbeg would rate higher than Lagavulin. One of my highest scores would go to Bruichladdich Distillery. Cheers!
A very nice list, and especially the Ardbeg selections. I've had all 3 of those and they are tremendous scotches. My wildcard addition would be the Caol Ila 12, which matches very well to the Lagavulin 16 but at a more reasonable price. All in all, can't go wrong with Isla Scotch!
I have 4 of those. I just don’t have the Port Charlotte. Lagavulin 16 is my number 1 Whisky and I’m currently waiting for the delivery of my Lagavulin 11yr Offerman Edition Guinness Cask.
Great episode Kevin, great choices and very well put explanations for both those new to Islay and more familiar. My Top 5 are Lagavulin 16 Ardbeg 10, Ardbeg Wee Beastie Laphroig 10 Bowmore 12
Thank you, Russ! Nice top 5. When we visited Islay, we actually stayed at the Bowmore cottages. I could look out our window and see the distillery. For some reason, it just never resonated with me. I may have to try the Bowmore 12 again. Cheers!
@@WhiskyRiffs Sounds beautiful. Bowmore defiantly doesn't feel like it has a distinctive as some of the others (I have a very nice Vault edition that is an exception) but I have a soft spot for it. I have still not tried Port Charlotte so thanks for the nudge on that!
Having a soft spot for whisky, wine, or foods is common. There are just some bottles that mean more because of who I was with or where I was tasting them. I also visited 8 distilleries on that trip, so Bowmore had stiff competition for my affection. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the PCHP 10 after you try it. Cheers, my friend!
@@WhiskyRiffs So true! I will let you know on the PCHP 10, looking forward to trying it.BTW nailed it on the Ardbeg campfire note, not put my finger on that until I saw this, cheers!
Yes Russ. Lagavulin 16 is my top favorite. I grab a bottle of it in Oregon while on vacation. Sitting on the porch while it rained sipping my drink. . . .👍👊😉
I am convinced that Scotch whisky drinkers are born, it is never an acquired taste. The various regions in Scotland have very different, very unique flavor profiles, much like wines. A Sauterne from Bordeaux is made from the same grape as a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Two entirely different animals. That said, if you like scotch, you won't go back to blended after finding your single malt. And it's difficult to go back to any single malt after you've been smacked in the face with an Islay. Please note, they are definitely NOT for everybody, so don't feel bad if you can't stand them. My intro was Laphroig 10. It remains my favorite, although Laphroig Quarter Cask is somewhat better, smoother than the 10. I definitely prefer 10 to the 18 or the cask strength. I don't care for Ardbeg, although your presentation of the Uigeadail has me very intrigued. Lagavulin 16 is wonderful, had some with my kids this evening, but it still isn't Laphroid 10. And you left out Talisker, a wonderful dram on par with Laphroig. Better than Talkisker is their Dark Storm, only available in Duty Free Shops when flying internationally. A few weeks ago, I snagged the very last bottle in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. My boys are fighting over ownership at this time. Warning to the wise, the Scotch Single Malt journey is a perilous one, those drams are as addicting as heroin. But on a cold, rainy, miserable night, after a lousy day in the office, and a worse commute home, nothing, including your dog, is more rewarding than sitting in front of a fire with 50ml in a crystal glass, with a single ice cube. L'Chaim!
Hi David, I didn’t include Talisker because it’s not an Islay distillery. I do have a separate video for it though: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TjyktLz_m5w.html. When I’m switching between types of whisky, I often have to give myself time to acclimate to softer or more harsh flavors. Cheers!
Cool video! I love that strat color combo. Just wanted to sing the praises for Peat Monster by Compass box, It has climbed to my top list over Lagavulin second only to Springbank 10. Its a brilliant blend of Ila's and Highlands, I never thought I could like a blended malt over a single but the blender John Glaser is an absolute genius. I recomend you try it if you haven't!
Thanks! When those American Professional Strats came out in 2016, I fell in love with that dark neck and green body. I'm also Peat Monster fan. I think I still have a bottle, but I'll have to dig into my cabinet to see. I should buy another. Thanks for the reminder. Cheers!
I would add Bowmore 12 which is lightly peaty at about 29 PPM vs Ardbeg which is around 214 PPM...combine with a little ice and a swish of Topo Chico sparkling water for a sensational drink
Nice summer drink idea! I didn't include Bowmore 12 because it's just not my favorite of the peated Islay offerings. I did a recent episode about the 18 year: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjWti4P7_zs.html. Be careful with the PPM numbers, since they really don't apply across brands. Port Charlotte and Octomore brag about PPM, but I think their smokey notes are easier to take than Laphroaig or Ardbeg at times. Cheers!
I completely agree. A friend of mine introduced me to Lagavulin 16 at his daughter's wedding many years ago. He pulled me and a handful of close friends aside and said, "Let me pour you a glass of the good stuff!" I've been hooked ever since. Cheers!
Islay Mist 8yr.....Saves my Bar from the guzzlers rather than a sipper/taster. I bring it to the Lake and campfire get togeathers. Saved me a small fortune at $24 and saved my Stock also.
Since when did the average temperature of a region affect the colour of whisky? Utterly bizarre comment. And, Laga 16 contains E150a caramel colouring and is chill filtered, this needs to be pointed out in a review. Otherwise good selection of peated drams.
Hi Pete. Thanks for pointing out the caramel coloring, I am trying to mention that and chill filtering more in my recent episodes. On the temperature of a region, I lived in Houston for 29 years and the amount of color that distilleries in Texas achieved in 6 months of maturation is amazing. The hotter the temperatures, the more the whisky is pushed into the wood. Cooler climates don't force as much movement in and out of the grain, so those areas produce lighter results (given the same starting type of cask). Even when E150a is used, it may not account for all the color and might only be used to balance color for different runs of bottles. Cheers!
Lagavullin 16 is maybe my favorite (affordable) whiskey ever… and I am primarily an Irish Whiskey drinker. Worth noting, there are a number of unpeated Islay that I also really enjoy: Bunnahabhain 12 or 18, and Bruichladdich Classic Laddie.
I love the Classic Laddie (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xIr4Mcbm8aI.html) and I have a couple of episodes planned: one for the unpeated Islay expressions and a deep dive on Bunnahabhain. Cheers!
Wife got me a bottle of the lagavelin 16 and it is a very good scotch first sip is a bit medicinal but smooths out the more you sip it. Ardbeg is a bit to peaty for me personally. However I do prefer higher abv and I'm disappointed with some maccallen only being 40%. Single malt is the way to go unless on vacation then I'll drink black label walker just to save on price. Won't drink red label ever might as well bottled water.
Macallan is often bottled at too low an ABV for the price, which is why I don’t buy too much of it. Sometimes adding a sherry or port finish to a whisky can smooth out the harsher notes, if you don’t enjoy the intense peat smoke flavors. Cheers!
first time watcher here. like the video overall, but some of your cuts are really abrupt. it's kinda painful. your tasting notes and approach is really excellent. something small - you mentioned there is unpeated port charlotte... not true. bruichladdich releases are always unpeated, port Charlotte is always moderate to heavy peat, and octomore is always mess your life up peated. also.. uigeadail is NOT cask strength. not even close. and the color is largely from e140. corryvreckan isn't cask strength either. you'd do a lot of justice to spend a little bit of time doing some research.
Hi Nathan, thanks for watching and for the feedback. I do make mistakes and do try to do my research… but then in the heat of recording some facts get scrambled. Cheers!
Lagavulin distillers edition is a bit pricey but very good. I like bowmore as well. I've had one of the other Ardbegs and it was amazing but don't recall which one. Regards the cask strength and higher abv whiskys, it is not uncommon to add a small amount of spring water to them. This is supposed to bring even more hidden depths. What does anyone think?
Hi Harry, I have an episode on the Bowmore 18 (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjWti4P7_zs.html), if you're interested. No matter the ABV, you can add water to any whisky. Some respond better to others and much of it is about individual taste. Experiment and enjoy. Cheers!
Nice video and I gave it a like, but I don't agree with Lagavulin 16 and won't buy it ever again on principle. It has almost doubled in price in the last few years due to the stupid hype, it's chill filtered and probably not natural color, lastly it doesn't really provide any outstanding tasting notes to justify the price. Would be worth it with a serious price reduction, but now that it almost costs twice as much as the Uigeadail? Seriously? Thank God that there are many other Islay options to choose from.
Thanks for the like, Márk! I still like the Lagavulin 16, even at its price point. But it is chill filtered and does have artificial coloring added. Maybe some of that can be attributed to sentimental reasons, but we like what we like, right? ;) Cheers!
This was just made two years ago and all these bottles are at least 40% more expensive now than he said in the video. I got into whisky at the wrong time.
This is a new golden era of whisky and that has caused prices to go up, but it's a great time to explore whisky. These were San Francisco prices and not all expressions are up that much, but many have higher prices in certain areas of the world. Cheers!
I did a quick tasting of the Sanaig in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hsP58ltN-Do.html. I may need to revisit that expression. Cheers!
14:04..... correction: For the Lag 16, it's not Natural colour, or as you said it "from the cask". Diageo is notoriously famous for adding caramel e150a to a lot of their whiskies. Just like Diageo is also super famous for their "43%" abv.....
Yes, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg all add color to some of their expressions. The color added typically is to balance out the differences between bottling runs and not to create all the color. But I am trying to call that out along with chill-filtering in all my new episodes. Thanks.
Thanks, Alex. I always think in terms of ABV, specifically looking for those expressions that break the 46% barrier and avoid chill filtering. I used to state both, but a lot of people commented about whiskies in ABV, so I stick to that now. Cheers!
Laphroaig double cask was my first love. hated it when my uncle made me drink...went on to love it to this day. sometimes with the double cask i feel.like the wood is in ky mouth lol
You’re correct. Laphroaig definitely has E150a influence. Most distillers use it to balance out the color between batches and not to completely alter the color, but I’ve been trying to point out the ones that add color in my follow-up videos. Cheers!
The Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10 should be available in well-stocked liquor stores. Sometimes it's listed as Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10. There are exceptions, of course, and some states just don't get the variety that others do. Cheers and good luck finding a bottle.
Thanks! For this video, I was sticking to Islay distilleries and Talisker is a bit further north on the Isle of Skye. I published a couple of reviews of the 10 (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TjyktLz_m5w.html) and 18 year (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjWti4P7_zs.html) expressions, if you'd like to check those out. Cheers!
Lagavulin is definitely my favorite. I've tried the 8 year, the 9 year (the Game of Thrones promotional "House Lannister"), the 2021 Distillers Edition, and I just picked up the 12 year 2021 Special Release, but I haven't opened it yet. I still haven't tried the 16, though, unfortunately.
Hi Devin, you've tried so many and danced around the classic 16? ;) The 8 year is similar, just not as well-rounded as the 16. I think I like the younger more sometimes. Cheers!
I try to point out when an expression has E150a added in newer episodes. But remember that added color isn't the only color for a whisky. It's typically just an adjustment to make all the batches consistent with each other for marketing purposes. Cheers!
Hi Arron. I've been talking about use of E150a in follow-up videos because many have made a similar comment. Anything from Bruichladdich (including Port Charlotte and Octomore) are free from caramel coloring and chill-filtering. Many of the others are adding some color for marketing consistency. It's hard to avoid.
I love the Lagavulin Distillers Edition, but it was above my $100 limit for this list. It did make the follow-up episode: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sAcLr7k3Z34.html. Cheers!
I won't argue about that. The Quarter Cask and the 10 year Cask Strength are better than the 10, but that expression and I have a history. It earned its place in the list. Cheers!
You're correct. Laphroaig and Lagavulin add color. I think it's unnecessary and I'm also not a chill filtering, but the marketing people was color and clarity.
I wasn't including sourced our blended Islay Scotch in this episode. There are some lovely peated expressions that contain Islay distillery offerings, but for my top 5, I decided to stick to direct from the distillery bottles. Cheers!
Decent presentation. I do very much enjoy the Ardbeg and Laphroaig scotches, but I am a bit disappointed that Bunnahabhain wasn't mentioned. IMO Bunnahabhain beats out Laphroaig, is similar to Ardbeg, and is even a tad less expensive than both at around $45-$55
For this episode, I was focusing on peated Islay Scotch and most of the Bunnahabhain expressions are unpeated. I do have a peated Bunnahabhain, but it's a travel exclusive and not very accessible. Which expression is your favorite from that distillery?
Bowmore has never been my favorite Islay Scotch. Nothing bad about them, just not the flavor profile I enjoy most. I did try to reintroduce myself to their 18 year in this episode: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjWti4P7_zs.html. Cheers!
Working my way through scotch, ardbeg wee beastie has quickly become my favorite. It's definitely not as refined, but man does it hit you in the mouth with the smoke.
I haven’t tried the Ardbeg 10 but I love the Wee Beastie. I also love Laphroaig 10 and the way you described the Ardbeg is exactly how I’ve described the Laphroaig to people.
Ledaig is a lightly peated Scotch from Tobermory distillery located on the Scottish island of Mull. I didn't include it because it's close to Islay, but not an Islay distillery. It's definitely a good introduction to smokey peated drams. Cheers!
Thanks. I've struggled with loving Bowmore expressions, but I'm always looking for expressions and did a review recently: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RjWti4P7_zs.html. Cheers!
The Laphroaig 10 is an acquired taste, but I love it. The Bunnahabhain 18 isn't peated, so it didn't make this top list or my pricier Islay video (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sAcLr7k3Z34.html). I do have plans for episodes about Bunnahabhain, though. They have some excellent expressions. Cheers!
Yep. Dozens of whisky distillers add e150. That doesn't mean all the color comes from caramel coloring, but many use it to balance the colors for marketing consistency.
I first tried Laphroaig a couple of decades ago. Hated it. Tried again last year. Still hate it. It is too medicinal, too offensive, I have to force myself to finish the bottle. I do love Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Lagavulin is brilliant, but Ardbeg is nearly as good for my taste and is less expensive. Ardbeg is always on my shelf, Lagavulin is for special occasions.
Peated Whisky from Islay are the Best. But Don't forget the Islands.... Talisker, Aaran, Jura, Highland park and Raasay... By the way my first Peated was Lagavulin 16yo and it was amazing !
Great list! The more people mention the Laphroaig Quarter Cask, the more I wish I'd included that over the 10. I just have fond memories of the 10 breaking me into the glorious world of peat and smoke. Cheers!
Well the 10 was the first scotch that I ever had.I have sentimental reasons for why I love it but I do prefer the quarter cask. If you have had the 16 it’s also ver special but if you want to stay under $100 then well the quarter cask is my pick. I think coal ila is ver special however.
Just love the blues guitar riffs in the background. I am a Scot and massive lover of Islay Single malts, I have bought and tasted all those you have mentioned. My own choice would be Ardbeg Corryvreckan, it is just magical, a bit pricy at £64 but worth it. Remember that tastes change on the palate but for me I can detect almonds and violets after a few mintes. A huge number of Scots do not like the creosote smell, it is something you will grow to love. I have a stomach problem and now have to greatly limit my alcohol intake. If anyone wants an Islay malt but wants to avoid the smoke and peat, can I suggest a Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, inexpensive and my all time favourite, nothing short of perfection IMO.
Thanks for the enjoying my riffs, Robert! I'm sorry to hear about your health issues that limit whisky intake, but I appreciate your suggestions and tasting notes. The Bunnahabhain 18 was one of my early bottles of Scotch to own, alas it and my 12 year bottles are long gone. I do still have a Bunnahabhain Cruach-Mhòna, which does warrant a review. Cheers!
You shoulda mentioned that most islay is light in color because most islay do not use caramel coloring like the majority of other scotches do. All of Scotland is pretty damn cold...
I tend to state the fact about Scotland being cold so often in my videos, I may have edited it out of this Top 5 one just to avoid sounding so redundant. 😂 Cheers!
@@WhiskyRiffs Cold climate aside my main point is almost all scotch add coloring. From Glenlivet to Macallan, hell even Islay's like Laphroaig and Lagavulin add caramel coloring... Having a pale scotch is natural and should be desired
The Port Charlotte Heavily Peated can come across as hot, if cask strength Scotch isn't a common pour for someone. I've never found it to be thin or lacking notes, unless I compare it to the Cask Exploration Series expressions. The latter has more flavors and also higher price tags. Cheers!
Six very good choices from distilleries that I regularly visit. Sadly, here in Scotland we get the standard Laphroaig 10 bottled at 40 % abv. Were it to be sold at a higher strength ( along with the Lagavulin ) then it would be so much better.
Hi Andrew! Yes, I noticed that 40% ABV while we were recently in Scotland. Combined with a loss of 50ml of Scotch makes it a hard purchase. The cask strength variant or the Quarter Cask might be better there?
